The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is getting in the spirit of holiday shopping again this year, offering to waive fees for all black or partially black pets on Black Friday.

Finding homes for black animals, particularly dogs and cats, can be difficult, owing in part to legends and folklore that portray the pets as unlucky or evil, shelter staff say. They also tend to blend into the background, said Mary Beth Mount, acting executive director of AWLA.

“We have had entire litters of black kittens who are fun and playful, but I see people walk past their cat condos without even stopping to look at them,” she said. “Of course we want all our animals to find homes, but our hearts go out to the ones who blend into the background because of their dark coloring, or who are overlooked because people think they are just another black dog or cat.”

The shelter will open at 10 a.m. Friday, about three hours earlier than normal, to entice potential adopters.